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    • Ferdinand hails home threat

      Centre-back feels teams fear coming to Old Trafford

      Last Updated: October 9, 2011 10:43am
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      Rio Ferdinand: Believes United have turned Old Trafford into a fortress

      Defender Rio Ferdinand has set his sights on lifting a 20th league title with Manchester United after helping them turn Old Trafford into a 'fortress'.
      High-flying United are top of the Premier League after going unbeaten in their opening seven games, while they have won all four home matches and scored 16 goals, conceding just three.
      Centre-back Ferdinand puts much of their early success down to their prowess on home turf and is confident Sir Alex Ferguson's men can retain the crown this term.

      Belief

      "There is such belief in the squad, we are gunning for title No.20," he told the Daily Star Sunday.
      "We believe Old Trafford is a fortress and that is a great base for us to build on.
      "That's the belief we've got, that's the belief the fans have got. Many teams come here knowing it's going to be a long battle.
      "It is the best stadium in the world to play in. The atmosphere, the fans - it's electric."
      Ferdinand says United never feel a game is a lost cause when playing at home, even if they fall behind.
      He added: "I think the biggest thing at Old Trafford is that teams can go one or two goals up against us and even if they walk in at half-time, two-up, then there's a good chance we will come back and win the game."
      United won 18 of their 19 home games in the Premier League last season to help them lift their 19th title, while the other ended in a 2-2 draw with West Brom.
      Ferdinand believes many of his side's results come down to the never-say-die outlook manager Ferguson and the more experienced players in the squad instil in the team.
      Mentality
      "It comes from the manager - he has got a winning mentality and wants to win all the time. It rubs off on the team," he said.
      "You have to have a certain number of players who have been here for a while who can take that on board.
      "They can address that in the dressing room - and we have got experience at the club.

       

      FA to wait on Rooney appeal

      Bevington confirms legal team are studying regulations

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    Wayne Rooney: The striker was sent off against Montenegro for kicking out at Dzudovic

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    The Football Association is waiting to learn the length of Wayne Rooney's international suspension before considering whether to appeal to Uefa.
    England's star man was sent off by referee Wolfgang Stark in Friday's draw with Montenegro, which booked a place at Euro 2012, after petulantly kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic.
    Rooney is facing at least a one-match suspension and will consequently be banned for the Three Lions' opening game of next summer's finals in Poland and Ukraine.
    Uefa could even decide to increase the punishment to as many as three matches, although match official Stark has suggested the striker's acceptance of his dismissal could work in his favour

    Action

    If his punishment was increased, Rooney could miss all of England's Euro 2012 group games and his absence would come as a significant setback for manager Fabio Capello.
    But FA director of communications Adrian Bevington does not want to speculate on a possible appeal, as he told Sky Sports News when questioned on the subject: "That is something we will have to consider.
    "We obviously have our own legal people looking through the regulations and we are fully up to speed as to where we stand with that.
    "But it would be wrong of me to say we will take any kind of action in response to something Uefa haven't done yet.
    "So let's see where we get to with Uefa and, if it is a one-game suspension, then we will move on from there."


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    Starlet open to Chelsea move

    Forward wants to follow in Drogba's footsteps

    By Giscard Gourizro.   Last Updated: October 7, 2011 8:23pm
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    Academica Coimbra striker Ibrahim Cissoko would love to emulate his hero, Didier Drogba, and play for Chelsea.
    The 19-year-old striker only moved to Portugal from Africa two years ago and was promoted to the senior squad last season after impressing at youth level.
    His performances have not gone unnoticed outside of Portugal either, with French trio Marseille, Rennes and Paris St Germain all linked with the youngster.
    However, when quizzed on a potential move, Cissoko admitted he would prefer either Marseille or Chelsea in order to copy his hero Drogba.
    "I am flattered by reports I am hearing about European teams interested in me," said Cissoko.
    "Chelsea and Marseille are so massive for me and my hero, Didier Drogba, played for the two of them and I loved these two clubs so we will see.
    "But I want to score goals and get noticed by other big teams. In January or the end of the season, we will see, but when Chelsea or Marseille comes you do not think twice."
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     Milner: Says playing away suits England's game ahead of game in Montenegro
    James Milner believes it may benefit England to be away from home against Montenegro on Friday, but has insisted there is no mental hang-up about playing at Wembley.

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    The Three Lions need only to avoid defeat in Podgorica to reach Euro 2012 but will be confident of getting all three points, having won their previous three qualifiers in Group G convincingly.
    In contrast to their form on the road, the win over Wales last month was their first in five games at Wembley with Fabio Capello indicating he could tell beforehand that England would struggle.
    Manchester City midfielder Milner admits England will have the opportunity against Montenegro to exploit the space often denied them in front of their own fans, but maintains that the players love being at Wembley.

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    "Wembley is a great place to play. A lot of players play there a lot with England and their clubs so it's nothing new," said Milner.
    "We've had some good performances at Wembley as well so it's not a mental thing.
    "We need to make sure next time we put on a performance at Wembley and put this sort of talk to bed.
    "We don't prefer to play away but it might help us on Friday as they have to come out and attack to win the game because that will open things up for us and we'll be able to use the gaps.
    "It makes it difficult when teams come to Wembley with 11 men behind the ball but we have to learn to break those teams down."

    Attacking strategy

    England have shown themselves capable in the past of earning vital away results in final qualifiers such as the goalless draws away to Italy and Turkey which clinched places at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2004 respectively.
    But Milner is adamant England will opt for an attacking strategy.
    He said: "At the start of qualifying, the main target was to win the group and we're in a position to do that.
    "We need a point and we just need to finish the job now. But we go out to win every game we play.
    "Only needing a draw is something nice to be able to fall back on but we're going to win.
    "We saw at Wembley (where Montenegro held England goalless) that they will be tough opposition but we've had a couple of good results recently and are looking to continue in that vein.
    "It's about grit and determination but you also want your quality to shine through as well. We want to get on the ball and play as well as we know we can."

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    Steve Morgan: While his side turns a profit, many others make huge losses which he feels is unsustainable

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    Wolves owner Steve Morgan has urged the Premier League to impose a salary cap in order to save clubs from potential financial ruin.
    Despite Uefa's upcoming financial fair play regulations, Morgan wants the Premier League to go a step further and ensure that no club spends more than 50 per cetn of their turnover on wages.
    His club, Wolves, are one of the few sides in the division that turn a profit, with others losing millions of pounds a year, albeit bankrolled by billionaire owners.
    Many, though, do not have the benefits of a generous backer and Morgan feels urgent action needs to be taken to prevent those clubs from falling into serious financial turmoil.
    "If there was a wage cap of 50 per cent of turnover, it would be good for other people who were perhaps finding it more difficult to stick to the limits," Morgan told the Express and Star.
    "Wages are the biggest single cost to football and there are clubs in the Premier League even aside from Manchester City, such as mid-ranking or lower mid-ranking clubs that run into 60, 70 and 80 per cent of their turnover.
    "That isn't sustainable. What are these clubs thinking of? If clubs want to avoid getting into serious financial trouble, they must get wages under control.
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Ferdinand: Chicago link played down

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Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire has denied that they have held talks to sign Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand.
Ferdinand's agents have already stressed that there is no truth in the reports linking the England international with a move to America.
And now Chicago admit that although they 'admire' the player - no talks have taken place.
"We have watched and admired the play of Rio Ferdinand for a number of years, and we would be thrilled to have a player of his quality join the Chicago Fire Soccer Club," said a club statement.
"However, there is no substance to these current reports that the Fire is negotiating with Manchester United and the player to bring him to Chicag

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Puyol: Feared for career

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Barcelona star Carles Puyol has revealed that he feared his recent knee injury could have ended his glittering career.
The 33-year-old played just 17 times last season after being diagnosed with tendinopathy in his left knee in January.
The Spain international featured in a handful of games towards the end of the season and after coming on as a late substitute in the UEFA Champions League final against Manchester United in May, Puyol then underwent a knee operation at the start of June that kept him sidelined for over three months.
Puyol has since returned to action with the Catalan giants and could play for Spain for the first time since last November in Friday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Czech Republic.
The Catalan ace admits there were times he felt he might have to hang up his boots.
He told Spanish television station Antena3 in an interview to be shown in full next week: "It's been eight months of suffering.
"It was a bad time because I didn't see a solution, I lost the strength in the leg and I couldn't play. It even went through my head to have to leave football."

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Kucka: Could be set for Inter move

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Genoa star Juraj Kucka has admitted he could join Inter Milan in January.
The Slovakian international midfielder joined Genoa in January this year from Sparta Prague.
Inter bought Kucka in a co-ownership deal in August as they swapped him with Emiliano Viviano.
Now reports suggest that Inter are ready to take Kucka in the New Year, and although he admits that is a possibility - he does suggest that he could also remain at Genoa.
"I may walk and moved to Inter Milan as early as January, but there is also the possibility that I stay in Genoa until the end of the season," Kucka said.
"The clubs are deciding, but I don't know anything and I only concentrate on football played.
"Anyone wants to hit major objectives and happiness weighs so much in sport.
"The important thing, however, is that a player landing in the right place at the right time, I hope to take important steps in the coming times."

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  • Eriksson: Backing Wenger to be the ideal choice to succeed Fabio Capello
Eriksson: Backing Wenger to be the ideal choice to succeed Fabio Capello
Sven Goran Eriksson has tipped Arsene Wenger as a possible successor to Fabio Capello as England manager.

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Capello is set to leave the role after the end of Euro 2012, should England qualify, and speculation will be rife over the coming months about the man to replace him.
The likes of Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson have been mentioned as possible candidates amid the clamour for an Englishman to be appointed into the tole
Most of the mainstream media seems to believe that Harry Redknapp's appointment is a mere formality, but Eriksson believes the Arsenal manager could be an alternative.
"Whatever the nationality of the coach, he has a difficult time if you don't reach the semi-final," Eriksson told The Times.

"Arsene Wenger can adapt to everything. I mean, he lives for football "
Sven Goran Eriksson Quotes of the week
"Quarter-finals were not good enough! I don't know what [the FA] are going to do, who they will take.
"Reporters talk about [Harry] Redknapp as the people's choice and I'm quite sure if they could get Wenger, they would take him.

Adaptable

"Arsene Wenger can adapt to everything. I mean, he lives for football and his family.
"If you consider him foreign [after his 15 years in England], I don't know.
"When I was there, that was a big issue, all the time more or less, because I was the first foreigner. But that's gone, I think. Then they went back to an English manager and that didn't work out, so they appointed a foreign manager."
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Bees cruise into JPT last eight
Diagouraga: On target for Bees

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Brentford brushed aside League One leaders Charlton 3-0 at The Valley to secure a place in the JPT area quarter-final.
The Bees, who knocked the Addicks out of the competition last year, got off to a dream start by taking the lead inside two minutes.
David Clarkson's initial shot was parried by Addicks keeper John Sullivan but the loose ball fell to Blair Adams, who fired a low shot into an empty net.
The Bees doubled their advantage in the 24th minute when they were awarded a penalty following a clumsy challenge by Mikel Alonso on Toumani Diagouraga, with Kevin O'Connor stepping up to smash home the spot kick.
Adams came close seven minutes after the restart when he ran half the length of the pitch before unleashing a 25-yard shot which went just wide of the post.
But Brentford didn't have long to wait until their third of the evening arrived on the hour when Diagouraga shot past Sullivan from 10 yards.

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Johnson: Dempsey is hoping striker's contract can be extended

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Clint Dempsey is hoping Fulham can secure team-mate Andy Johnson's services beyond the end of the season.
The former Everton striker's current deal is due to expire in the summer, although talks are ongoing to extend his stay.
Question marks have been raised over Johnson's long-term future after manager Martin Jol revealed he shunned the club's initial offer.
Johnson proved his credentials over the weekend with a hat-trick in Fulham's 6-0 demolition job over newly-promoted QPR.

Respect

Dempsey is a big fan of Johnson's ability and hopes the striker stays with the West London outfit.
"That's not for me to make that decision," Dempsey told the Fulham Chronicle.
"But AJ's a goal scorer and he's good to have around, and hopefully that will be the case for some time to come.
"He also likes to have a laugh and I respect him for the fact he's had some tough injuries and fought back from them."


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Beckham: Flattered to be wanted by PSG but says family considerations must come first

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David Beckham says he is flattered to be wanted by Paris St Germain, but says the happiness of his family will dictate his next move.
The former England captain's contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy expires at the end of the Major League Soccer season and Beckham has yet to make a decision on his future.
PSG are keen to bring the ex-Manchester United midfielder to France, while the likes of Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with offers for the 36-year-old.
Beckham has worked previously with PSG sporting director Leonardo during his two loan spells at AC Milan and has been keeping a close eye on happenings in the French capital.

Exciting time

He told sports.fr: "I had a good relationship with him when I was in Milan the first time and also when he was manager the second time.
"He's a great sporting director and a wonderful person. I'm flattered that he wants me to come join him and the team in Paris, but I'm a Galaxy player, I live in Los Angeles, I am happy there and I play for them.
"There are great things happening in France at several clubs, but it's an exciting time for PSG... Leonardo joining them, the money the club has, so it's an interesting club."

"This (the family) is the number one priority, family comes first and where they are happy is where I stay, it's that simple."
David Beckham Quotes of the week
Beckham and former pop star wife Victoria recently had their fourth child and he is adamant his family's considerations will be paramount in deciding where to go next, with clubs from Brazil and the Middle East also reportedly interested.
"This (the family) is the number one priority, family comes first and where they are happy is where I stay, it's that simple," he added.
"My children go to school in LA and have done for five years. They are at the age where stability is important, so we'll see. I always said I will wait until the end of the season, see how I feel physically and then decide.
"There is no urgency on my part obviously. It is important that I focus on the rest of the season.
"We should make the play-offs, we still have two matches to go and I will focus on the season and worry about the rest later."
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Mourinho: His future has been the subject of intense speculation

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Real Madrid director of football Zinedine Zidane insists Jose Mourinho will not be leaving the club for Paris St Germain.
Reports have suggested that the Portuguese tactician could be lured to France by PSG's wealthy owners.
Speculation has also claimed that ambitious Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala could try and tempt Mourinho away from the Spanish capital.
Zidane has been quick to quash the rumours, with Real having no plans to part with their manager.
They see Mourinho as a big part of their future and expect him to remain at Santiago Bernabeu for 'many years' to come.

Happy

"Mourinho to PSG is just a rumour," Zidane told Canal+
"He is very happy where he is.
"It is like the reports saying David Beckham is to join PSG. These are only rumours.
"Mourinho will, I think, be staying at Real for many years. I hope he does."
 
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